October roundup – Television

October 7

Second season of highly regarded show about the inner workings of network television, with SNL’s (and series creator) Tina Fey as writer Liz Lemon and Alec Baldwin as corporate executive Jack Donaghy. Extras: deleted scenes, table reads, live performance, interviews, Fey on SNL, commentaries.

‘Allo ‘Allo! The Complete Collection

BBC Video, 2,400+ minutes, $249.98

‘Allo ‘Allo! The Complete Series Nine

BBC Video, 180 minutes, $29.98

All nine seasons of this BBC comedy series get a box set, with over 41 hours of Rene Artois’ (Gordon Kaye) escapades as a spy on the ground in German-occupied France during World War II. Season Nine is also available separately, for those who already have the first eight. Extras: cast interviews and bios, retrospective specials

Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius

BBC Video, 100 minutes, $24.98

In this Tom Baker-era episode, the Time Lords take control of the Tardis, seeking the return of the evil Brain of Morbius. Extras: commentary, making-of documentary, photo and sketch galleries.

Third season of sitcom featuring twenty-somethings looking to meet their soul mates and bid farewell to the single life. Extras: several featurettes, commentary, gag reel, behind-the-scenes.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Sony, 89 minutes, $24.96

Lifetime Network weepie about a doctor (Dermot Mulroney) and his wife (Gretchen Mol), who have twins. When one is born with Down Syndrome, he decides to send the child away. The attending nurse (Emily Watson) intervenes, setting in motion a series of events that will haunt the family for the next 20 years. Based on the novel by Kim Edwards. No extras listed.

The Munsters: The Complete Series

Universal, 70 episodes, $69.98

Both seasons of the comedic series conceived as an answer to “The Addams Family.” Includes the two Munster movies: “Munster, Go Home” and “The Munsters Revenge.” Also includes the “Family Portrait” episode, available for the first time in full color.

The Note

Sony, 86 minutes, $24.96

Hallmark Channel made-for-TV movie about a human-interest columnist (Genie Francis) who finds a note written by a passenger on a plane that crashed near her office. She pledges to take the note to the child it’s addressed to, taking her readers along for the journey. Based on a novel by Angela Hunt. Extras: interviews with Francis and Hunt.

Television’s longest-running sitcom gets another box set. These boxes have been consistent in their extras, making them worthwhile collections for the series’ fans. 22 episodes. Packaging this time features Krusty the Clown, with a bonus insert for die hard fans. Extras: episode commentaries with series creator Matt Groening and others, deleted scenes, animation showcases, featurettes, more.

South Park: The Cult of Cartman

Comedy Central/Paramount, 264 minutes, $26.99

The worst of the South Park hell-raisers gets his own special disc set, with 12 episodes showcasing him at his worst. Extras: introductions for each episode from Cartman himself.

October 14

Back To You: Season 1

Fox, 291 minutes, 14 episodes, $39.98

Kelsey Grammer is a womanizing anchorman who returns to Pittsburgh after 11 years in L.A. He reunites with his former co-anchor (Patricia Heaton) and finds out he’s the father of her 10-year-old daughter. Fox didn’t pick it back up for the fall season, according to Wikipedia, but is shopping it around to other networks. Might be difficult, as Grammer is already scheduled to play the lead in a new sitcom, "Roman’s Empire." Extras: three unaired episodes, two featurettes, gag reel.

The Edwardians

BBC Video, 635 minutes, $49.98

1972 British teleplay about the movers and shakers during the era of England’s King Edward VII, 1901-1910. Features Anthony Hopkins, Timothy West and Judy Parfitt. No extras listed.

Lil’ Bush: Resident of the United States: Season Two

Comedy Central, 220 minutes, $26.99

Second season of the cartoon series featuring George W. Bush and his senior staff as little kids with a penchant for misanthropic adventure. I watched a few episodes of Season One and hated it. Personally, I won’t make the same mistake twice. Extras: animatics, viral video, commentary.

Lovejoy: Christmas Specials

BBC Video, 187 minutes, $24.98

Two holiday specials from the British series about a crime-solving antiques dealer: “The Prague Son” and “The Lost Colony.” No extras listed.

That ’70s Show: The Complete Series Stash Box

Fox, 3,960 minutes, 200 episodes, 8 seasons, 32 discs, $199.98

Fox series about teenagers growing up in the 70s gets a box set in a retro 1970s record box, with the DVD sleeves designed like classic LP covers. Extras: buku featurettes, keepsake “yearbook” with director’s letter, cast interviews, photos, timelines, script for the final episode.

The Partridge Family: The Complete Third Season

Sony, 642 minutes, 25 episodes, $29.95

Third season of popular 1970s series about a musical family, with Shirley Jones as the single mom and bandleader. We must have been pretty desperate for entertainment back then, as there’s one more season to go. Extras: two “Minisodes.”

Quark: The Complete Series

Sony, 222 minutes, 8 episodes, $19.94

Extremely silly series about an intergalactic garbage man (Richard Benjamin) and his whacked-out crew, to include the “transmute” Gene/Jean, the vegetable science officer, the gorgeous Betty I and her clone Betty II, and a wimpy robot. Created by “Get Smart” creator Buck Henry in 1977, in order to cash in on the “Star Wars” craze. Did I just say we were desperate for entertainment? Extras: two “Minisodes.”

Rules of Engagement: The Complete Second Season

Sony, 324 minutes, 15 episodes, two discs, $29.95

Second season for sitcom about the pitfalls of dating, commitment and marriage, starring David Spade, Patrick Warburton, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, and Megyn Price. Extras: bloopers, two “Minisodes.”

The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two, Volume One

Comedy Central/Paramount, 132 minutes, $26.99

First half of second season of the controversial female comedienne, where she does some rather bizarre and sometimes disgusting things, according to the press release. I think I’ll skip this one. Extras: commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, digital shorts, 2007 Comic-Con appearance.

The Unit: Season Three

Fox, 484 minutes, 11 episodes, three discs, $39.98

Third season of Special Forces unit that operates in the shadows without fanfare or credit for their work. Extras: commentaries, deleted scnes, “Writers Roundtable” featurette.

October 21

Blood+: Volume Three

Sony, 120 minutes, $24.96

Third installment in the popular Adult Swim anime series about a high school student turned samurai warrior. Features five episodes: “After The Dance,” “Lured By The White Mist,” “Jungle Paradise,” “The Last Sunday” and “I Want To Pursue!” No extras listed.

Comedy Central Salutes George W. Bush

Comedy Central/Paramount, 66 minutes, $14.99

Bush 43 has been a source of comedy gold for the network; now they’re thanking him for the material. Features material from “Lil’ Bush,” “That’s My Bush!,” “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” No extras listed.

Family Guy; Volume Six

Sony, 12 episodes, $39.98

Also part of the “Freakin’ Sweet Party Pack:” $169.98

Continuing adventures of the most dysfunctional family this side of “The Simpsons.” Plenty of extras: 50 deleted scenes, commentary, 100th episode special, featurettes, favorite scenes, music video.

The Other Boleyn Girl

BBC Video, 90 minutes, $19.98

Not to be confused with this year’s more glossy film starring Natalie Portman, this tells the story of Mary Boleyn (Natascha McElhone), mistress to King Henry VIII (Jared Harris) before he married her older sister Anne (Jodhi May). I never saw either film, but as I recall from history, things didn’t turn out too well for the sisters, especially Anne. No extras listed.

October 28

The Flintstones: The Complete Series

Warner Bros., 4,203 minutes, 24 discs, $129.72

Those who bought the individual years are going be a little ticked about this set; it’s half the price of the other sets. Oh well. Life sucks, then you die. Extras: custom packaging, over four-and-a-half hours of bonus features.

Good Times: The Complete Series

Sony, 3,327 minutes, six seasons, 133 episodes, 17 discs, $59.95

News Radio: The Complete Series

Sony, 2,184 minutes, five seasons, 97 episodes, 15 discs, $59.95

Sanford and Son: The Complete Series

Sony, 3,331 minutes, six seasons, 18 discs, $59.95

Sony continues it’s revamped space-saver packaging with these three series, like they did with “Soap” and “What’s Happening!” If you already have the individual seasons, you don’t need these, as they are the same thing, just not as bulky. No extras listed.